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Louis BaillyFrench-American violist and music educator
Date of Birth: 13.06.1882
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Louis Bailly: French-American Violist and Music Educator
- Professional Career
- Legal Battle and Later Years
Louis Bailly: French-American Violist and Music Educator
Early Life and EducationLouis Bailly was a French-American violist and music educator. He was born in France and later became a citizen of Canada. Bailly graduated from the Paris Conservatory in 1899, where he studied under Théophile Laforge.
Professional Career
After completing his education, Bailly played in the Colonne Orchestra and various Parisian opera theaters. In 1903, he joined the first lineup of Lucien Capet's string quartet and also participated in other chamber ensembles. In 1917, Bailly replaced Hugo Ara in the Flonzaley Quartet while Ara was serving in the military. When Ara returned in 1919, Bailly joined the Berkshire String Quartet at the invitation of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.
During his time with the Berkshire String Quartet, Bailly premiered two versions of Ernest Bloch's Suite for Viola: first in an arrangement for viola and piano with Harold Bauer, and then with an orchestra. However, Ara's health did not allow him to continue performing, and Bailly returned to his position in the quartet.
Legal Battle and Later Years
By 1924, Bailly's relationship with the other members of the quartet had deteriorated. Upon learning that his participation in the ensemble would not be renewed after the season, Bailly filed a lawsuit to declare the quartet a commercial partnership and initiate its liquidation according to formal procedures, with a subsequent prohibition on the use of the previous name. For over a year, courts rejected Bailly's claim, and he filed multiple appeals. However, he ultimately had to concede.
From 1925 to 1941, Bailly served as the head of the viola class at the Curtis Institute of Music. He then taught at the Quebec Conservatory from 1943 to 1957. In 1950, Bailly became a Canadian citizen.
